Hamza (Mathemagician)

Topic 1.6

Topic 1.6: Group 1 and Group 2

Introduction
The properties of elements and their compounds change steadily down a Group Down the group, the elements become increasingly metallic in character Thus:o Their oxides become stronger bases o They form positive ions more readily o They form covalent bonds less readily

Physical properties of the elements

Group 1: all are solid metals; their melting temperatures and hardness decrease down the group; all conduct electricity Group 2: all are solid metals; their melting temperature and hardness decrease down the group (expect magnesium which has a lower melting temperature than calcium); all conduct electricity; their melting temperatures are higher than the group 1 elements in the same period.

Flame colours of their compounds

Group 1 Group 2 Lithium Sodium Potassium Calcium Strontium Barium Carmine red Yellow Lilac Brick red Crimson red Apple green

The colours are caused because:1. heat causes the compounds to vaporise and produce some atoms of the metal with electrons in a higher orbital than the ground state (e.g. 4th shell rather than the normal 3rd shell for sodium) 2. The electrons falls back to its normal shell and as it does so, energy in the form of visible light is emitted. The light that is emitted is of a characteristic frequency, and hence colour, dependent on the energy level difference between the 2 shells.

Ionisation energies
The value of the 1st ionisation energy for Group 1 and of the 1st and 2nd ionisation energies for Group 2 decreases down the group. This is because as the atoms gets larger, the outer electrons are further from the nucleus and so are held on less firmly. The increase in nuclear charge is compensated for by an increase in the shielding by the inner electrons.

Reaction of elements with oxygen

Group 1: all burn

Hamza (Mathemagician)

Topic 1.6

Lithium forms an oxide: 4Li + O2 2Li2O Sodium forms a peroxide: 2Na + O2 Na2O2 The rest form superoxide: K + O2 KO2 Group 2: All burn to form ionic oxides of the formula MO, except that in excess, barium forms a peroxide (BaO2) 2Ca + O2 2CaO Group 1: All react vigorously to form ionic chlorides of formula MCl. These dissolve in water to produce hydrated ions: NaCl Na+ + ClGroup 2: All react vigorously to produce ionic chlorides of formula MCl2, except that BeCl2 is covalent when anhydrous.

Reaction of the elements with chlorine

Reactions of the elements with water

Group 1: All react vigorously with cold water to give an alkaline solution of the metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas 2Na + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2 Group 2: beryllium does not react but magnesium burns in steam to produce an oxide and hydrogen: Mg + H2O MgO + H2 The rest react rapidly with cold water to form an alkaline suspension of metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas: Ba + 2H2O Ba(OH)2 + H2

Reactions of Group 2 oxides with water

BeO is amphoteric and does not react with water. MgO is basic and reacts slowly with water to form a hydroxide. All the others react rapidly and exothermically to form alkaline suspensions of the hydroxide, which have a pH of about 13 CaO + H2O Ca(OH)2

Solubilities of Group 2 sulphates and hydroxides

Sulphates: their solubilities decrease down the group Hydroxide: their solubilities increase down the group. Addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide to solutions of Group 2 salts, produce a white ppt of metal hydroxide. (Ba forms faint ppt)

Thermal stability of nitrates and carbonates

Thermal stability increases down both groups

Nitrates
Group 1 Except lithium nitrate, decompose to give metal nitrite and oxygen: 2NaNO3 2NaNO2 + O2 but 4LiNO3 2Li2O + 4NO2 + O2

Carbonates
Are all stable to heat except for lithium carbonate Li2CO3 Li2O + CO2

Hamza (Mathemagician) Group 2 Group 2 nitrates all decompose to give a metal oxide, brown fumes of NO2 and oxygen: 2Ca(NO3)2 2CaO +

Topic 1.6 All decompose (except barium carbonate which is stable to heat) to give a metal oxide and carbon dioxide: CaCO3 Li2O + CO2

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